Before you decide to pack up and move away, you might want to check out the findings from the annual “healthiest states” study released by the United Health Foundation. Based on a number of health factors, the study has ranked the healthiest — and the least healthy — states throughout America. A state’s ranking is established from a number of different health indicators — 22 in all — and include a broad range of criterion such as: obesity levels, smoking rates, overall deaths from cancer and the number of children who receive vaccinations.
The study gave the first place nod the New England state of Vermont; this was due in large part to Vermont’s low levels of obesity and child poverty, and the high number of doctors within the state. Interestingly enough, the health trend was present through the East Coast; all 6 of the New England states received favorable rankings and found themselves amongst the top ten healthiest states. In general, the study found that these states have efficient public health systems and a large number of doctors compared to the population.
On the contrary, the study found that many of the Southern states ranked poorly compared to the rest of the nation. Within the bottom ten worst ranked states, 8 were located within the South with Mississippi coming in dead last. Factors that contributed to the low rankings included: high levels of infant mortality, smoking rates and obesity and and low number of doctors per capita. In addition, the study found that many people living within states that received poor rankings typically had less healthcare coverage and tended to live in communities that experienced higher crime and child poverty rates.
For us Californians the news was not as bad but was still nothing the brag about, we received a modest ranking of 23… In any case, the goal — or rather intention — of the study was to provide a snapshot of the nations health and show how it varies on a state by state basis. It also aimed to reinforce the widely held notion that many of the health problems that plague our country — and our states for that matter — are preventable; prime examples include ailments resulting from obesity and smoking. Furthermore, an extremely important aspect of the study was the correlation between a states overall health, and other variables such as crime and child poverty rates. This is a key feature to take into consideration; we must begin to realize that the health of our communities is dependent upon much more than the “potential” care they are able to receive. I only say “potential” because I understand that even though we may have the ability to provide health care to many of those in need, a large majority of the population is effectively left out of the system as a result of cultural, personal or financial constraints. It seems clear — in my mind at least — that if we ever hope to create a more efficient means of delivering quality care, we must take a myriad of components into consideration. A study such as this only helps to establish an overall state of affairs, states must now use the information provided within the study to improve key health care indicators and refine the overall quality of health care and the way it is delivered.
